Most of Johannesburg’s western suburbs were heading for another night of candles, cold baths and takeaways — for those who could afford it — as only about 10% of the area’s power had been restored by late Wednesday afternoon.
City Power spokesperon Sol Masolo saidthat while technicians had made progress in their round-the-clock repairs which began on Monday night after the Hurst Hill transformer burst into flames, nobody knew when all power would be restored.
”Customers want to know when they can switch on but we don’t know yet,” he said.
Patients had been moved out of the intensive care section of the Helen Joseph and Coronationville hospitals to other hospitals, said health department spokesman Popo Maja.
The two affected hospitals had generators but the power supplied by them was erratic and might have been a risk to patients on ventilators.
The health department asked the public to use the Chris Hani-Baragwanath, Leratong and Johannesburg hospitals instead, and to delay non-emergency visits until power was restored.
”It’s a disaster,” said Melville Spar owner John Bayert as he ordered the disposal of yet another load of food that had perished during the prolonged power failure in Johannesburg’s western suburbs. ”We’ve thrown away hundreds of thousands of rands worth of food,” he said.
”I can’t give any of this food away, or to charity. What if someone gets poisoned? What if someone gets salmonella? I’m not prepared to take that chance.”
At the nearby gate stood an armed security guard. A small crowd had gathered hoping to be given some food.
”Why won’t he give us the food? It looks fine to us. Can’t you try and get some food for us?” asked one man.
Although parts of the area had electricity, the sounds of the laundromats, hair salons and restaurants that characterise the usually bustling student village were replaced by the chugging of hastily ordered generators. ATMs did not work and some petrol stations were closed.
”We don’t have a generator, we are closed,” said an attendant at the BP filling station opposite the devastated transformer on Perth Road.
The Dros restaurant at Campus Square was deserted as owners Johan Smit and Ludvick Biddulph waited for their hired generator to arrive.
The nearby Woolworths had agreed to keep some of their frozen food in their generator-powered refrigerators, and they had taken the rest of their stock to the Cresta centre branch of the restaurant. The restaurant had been closed since about 8pm on Monday.
”We usually have at least 300 people a night — we are losing a lot of money,” said Biddulph.
They had ordered the generator to enable them to honour party bookings for Thursday and Friday night in case the power was still out.
People with private insurance were preparing to submit their claims.
It was not yet clear whether City Power would entertain claims from residents for lost food but Masolo said they could contact the legal department for advice.
The areas affected are Auckland Park, Melville, Hurst Hill, Westdene, Sophiatown, Newclare, parts of Delarey Park, Westbury, Bosmont, Claremont, Greymont, Crosby, Northcliff Extension 25, Rossmore, Richmond, Albertville and Martindale. – Sapa